Skipjack Tuna
Skipjack tuna show up off the South African coast as a smaller but hard-running member of the offshore tuna mix.
Most common around the SW Cape — Cape Point, False Bay, and the Hout Bay grounds — they're caught by recreational boat anglers trolling the same blue water that draws yellowfin.
A significant commercial linefish species nationally, second only to snoek in volume caught.
Scientific Name: Katsuwonus pelamis
Also known as Bonito, Katonkel
- Dark purplish-blue back fading to a silver belly; 4–6 bold dark horizontal bands running along the lower sides toward the tail — the clearest ID mark separating it from other tuna.
- Scaleless body except for the corselet (a band of thick scales behind the head) and the lateral line; classic torpedo-shaped tuna build.
- Typical catch weight 3–8 kg; can reach up to 18 kg and grow past 1 m in length, though fish that size are uncommon inshore.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Found along the whole South African coast but most abundant off the SW Cape, particularly around Cape Point, False Bay, and Hout Bay.
- A pelagic, open-water species that stays in the upper water column; rarely found deeper than 260 m and confined to water above roughly 15°C.
- Drawn to upwelling zones and current boundaries — the mixing of the Benguela and Agulhas currents near the continental shelf creates exactly the nutrient-rich conditions that concentrate baitfish and, in turn, skipjack.
- Migrates close inshore at Cape Point and into False Bay seasonally; also aggregates around offshore reefs.
Key Locations
- Cape Point and the continental shelf edge — the primary recreational grounds, where the Benguela-Agulhas mixing drives productivity.
- Hout Bay, Cape Town — the main departure point for offshore tuna charters targeting skipjack alongside yellowfin and bigeye.
- False Bay — skipjack migrate close inshore here seasonally, making them accessible to smaller boats.
Specific Spots
- The "Canyon" near the continental shelf edge, roughly 10–40 nautical miles off Cape Point — where cold Benguela and warm Agulhas water collide and baitfish stack up.
- Surface temperature breaks and color changes in blue oceanic water; skipjack school visibly at the surface when feeding, so watch for bird activity and nervous water.
- Offshore reefs where baitfish aggregate — skipjack use these as feeding stations rather than holding structure.
Skipjack Tuna FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Skipjack Tuna?
Small pink or brightly colored squid skirts trolled at the surface are the go-to on Cape Town charter boats, they imitate the squid and small baitfish skipjack are actively hunting.
When is the best time to fish for Skipjack Tuna?
Most abundant and accessible during the southern hemisphere summer, October through April, when warmer blue water pushes close to the Cape Peninsula.
How do you catch Skipjack Tuna?
Almost all recreational skipjack fishing in South Africa is done from charter or private boats, trolling a spread of squid skirts and diving lures over blue oceanic water near the continental shelf.
What do Skipjack Tuna eat?
Feeds on smaller fish, crustaceans, squid, and other cephalopods, anything schooling in the upper water column. This is why small trolled squid skirts and baitfish-profile lures draw strikes: they match what skipjack are already chasing.
Where do Skipjack Tuna live?
Found along the whole South African coast but most abundant off the SW Cape, particularly around Cape Point, False Bay, and Hout Bay. A pelagic, open-water species that stays in the upper water column; rarely found deeper than 260 m and confined to water above roughly 15°C.
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